The Java Command Line Interface (CLI) is a simple but powerful Spectra S3 client for BlackPearl. As the name implies, it allows users to manage files in BlackPearl using a simple command-line interface. The Java CLI, which is both free and open source, was created by Spectra Logic using our Java Software Development Kit and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

We have created a Java CLI Reference and Examples page to assist you with using the Java CLI. We find that one of the most common uses of the Java CLI by our customers is moving files to BlackPearl on some periodic basis using a scheduled task or cron job. Our examples therefore show how to use the Java CLI and 7zip (7zip.org) to zip and move files to BlackPearl. The files can then be retrieved from BlackPearl if needed using the Java CLI or the Deep Storage Browser (formerly DS3 Browser) -- another free and open-source Spectra S3 client created by Spectra Logic.

The Java CLI works like many other command line interfaces. There is a base call (ds3_java_cli) with options to control behavior. There are a total of 13 different commands currently available in the CLI. Here is an example of Java CLI command to move a folder from a server to BlackPearl:

ds3_java_cli -e bp1.acmecorp.com -a amVmZmJy -k iYkqUwcd -c put_bulk -b bucket1 -d “c:\Temp\subdir1”

In this example, the command put_bulk is used to move server directory subdir1 to a bucket called bucket1 on the BlackPearl located at bp1.acmecorp.com. The -a is the BlackPearl user’s S3 Access ID and the -k is the user’s S3 Secret Key.

You can optionally set system environment variables for the S3 Access ID (-a), S3 Secret Key (-k), endpoint (-e) and HTTP proxy (-x, not shown).

There are more examples and information located on the Java CLI Reference and Examples page. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please use our Forum or Contact Us.

This week Spectra Logic released a new version of the Spectra Logic Developer Program website.

One reason for launching the new site was to update the look and feel to match our recently updated corporate website. Besides looking great, the new sites work on all devices and have some nice interactive features.

But the main reason for the new version of the Developer site was to make our DS3 client development tools easier to download and access. DS3 is our deep storage protocol, an extension of S3, which allows users to move data to deep storage using simple HTTP commands.  This protocol is made possible by our BlackPearl Deep Storage Gateway.  Now anyone can access all the tools needed to create a DS3 application, including a BlackPearl Simulator, Software Development Kits, sample clients, and documentation.

Additionally, Spectra Logic has decided to make its BlackPearl DS3 software development kits (SDKs) and clients both freely downloadable and open source. This has been done for several reasons:

• To make it as easy as possible for developers, a group which consists of both customers and partners, to develop DS3 clients.
• To allow developers to modify the software for their particular needs, and to contribute those modifications back to the community.
• Developers in the web service and cloud storage communities have an expectation that software tools will be freely available and open source. We want to be a trusted partner in that community.
• Spectra Logic is in the business of selling deep storage hardware. More DS3 clients means that we can provide deep storage hardware to more customers.

We hope that you now find it easier than ever to develop DS3 clients. As always, we look forward to your feedback.

Follow me on Twitter @jeffbr

Spectra Logic has entered a new phase in our company’s history. Our unique products have always required us to be both a hardware and software company. But now, for the first time, we are making it easier to store data on our hardware by providing a software interface available to everyone. This means that customers and partners can build their own applications and clients to move data to Spectra’s deep storage tape libraries. This could greatly reduce the cost and complexity of storing data in long-term archives. But it also means that Spectra must provide the tools and resources necessary for users to build these software applications.

That’s where I come in. I am Jeff Braunstein, the new “Developer Evangelist” at Spectra Logic. After working at Spectra for more than 13 years, I am excited to begin my new role and to help our customers and partners. As Spectra’s Developer Evangelist, my job is to be the “Guinea Pig” developer for the Spectra Logic Developer Program. I will be responsible for building clients and tools using our developer resources, ensuring that necessary documentation and examples are provided to build applications, and answering developer questions or providing someone who can. I will work with our Engineering team to make sure our software interface has all the features the developer community needs, and will reach out to the current and potential developer community to demonstrate how to get started and build clients.

Our new software interface is made possible by our BlackPearl™ Deep Storage Gateway. The BlackPearl appliance sits in front of our deep storage tape libraries and allows users to move data using simple HTTP commands. Our command set is called DS3 and is an extension of the S3 storage interface popularized by Amazon®. We provide not only the Application Program Interface (API) for these DS3 commands, but also Software Development Kits (SDKs) in several programming languages to make it even easier to create DS3 clients and applications.

So what are your long-term storage challenges? Could this new, easy way to move data to deep storage help solve your organization’s data storage problems?

Send your feedback and questions my way at jeffbr@spectralogic.com or put them in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Visit the following links to learn more about Spectra Logic’s Developer Program, our BlackPearl™ Deep Storage Gateway, and our DS3 Software Interface.

Follow me on Twitter @jeffbr